Tips 'n Tricks

Do you have a helpful hint or handy trick that will make any aspect of knitting easier? Share it! Post ideas on scrap yarn usages, stitch markers, color changing, maintaining your sanity while following a difficult pattern, etc. There is most probably someone out there that will benefit from your help. Need ideas yourself? Read others' comments--we all live and learn!

Monday, November 26, 2007Name: Josephine

Subject: reply to Rebekah (and everyone else out there who is obsessed with knitting)

Comment: Try looking in charity shops for knitting needles. You have to ask for them, because of health and safety, but they will be cheap because it's a charity shop. Happy knitting

Sunday, November 25, 2007Name: Silvia de Castillo

Subject: Pom Poms

Comment: I read this on a Patons pattern. When making pom poms, one very easy way is to wind the yarn around 4 fingers about 40 times, for a nice size. Then remove and tie tightly at the center. With a scissor cut the loops and trim if necessary. If you want smaller pom poms, use less fingers and less yarn. It works. From Guatemala City I wish you all a happy knitting and thank you so much for the great tips!!

Thursday, November 22, 2007Name: Rebekah

Subject: none

Comment: I only own a size 4, 8 and 15 knitting needles (considering i'm twelve and can only afford three pairs!). So when a pattern calls for a size '6' or '10', a number eight or four is pretty universal.

I only EVER use the 15 when working with thick THICK yarn, or else the completed project is very lacy and unstable.

Thursday, November 22, 2007Name: Beka

Subject: wrong side vs. right side

Comment: I always get confused about the 'wrong side' rows and 'right side' rows. So I buy a package of different color needles in the same size. Then I know that say a 'red' needle is the wrong side and a blue one is the right side. happy knitting!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007Name: ty

Subject: binding off

Comment: One way to keep the last stitch of the cast off edge from getting loopy is to slip the first stitch of the row directly preceding the bind off row, and when you get to the last bound off stitch, it won't stick out.

Monday, November 19, 2007Name: Luisa

Subject: Storage

Comment: I like to store my yarn in a big 'curver' pirate chest. But, it was bought about 12 years ago, so I don't know if they still make them. Also, the plastic stacking boxes work quite well, but when you go in, you don't get the feeling that you are looking for your private stash

On a completely unrelated note, I reccommend the Bumper Book Of Knitting, from WHSmith's. It has 2 or 3 stitch patterns per month in its year of stitches, and many patterns

Saturday, November 17, 2007Name: Tish

Subject: Straps for tops

Comment: If you want to jazz up a knitted tube top or if you just want to save time knitting your top, just use ribbon to replace the straps (satin ribbons look pretty).

Thursday, November 15, 2007Name: Faye

Subject: markers

Comment: When you need markers and don't have any just get a drinking straw and snip pieces off of it to use as a marker. Cheap and easy to find.

Thursday, November 15, 2007Name: Roisin/Ireland

Subject: bag handles

Comment: Instead of buying expensive bag handles for knitted bags I discovered cheap wooden rings (the kind that tapestry rings are made from) 9inch and 6inch at my local craft shop which I cover using a chunky wool. I cast on about 5 stitches and knit the length of the ring. The handles are much more interesting!

Thursday, November 15, 2007Name: Catherine from Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Subject: Storing Small Projects

Comment: I find that fancy cardboard wine tubes are a wonderful and thrifty solution for storing smaller projects (drop a soap bar in to make your yarn smell wonderful and insect proof). The tubes are very stylish, although I have been asked on several occasions why I like to carry wine bottles with me all the time! ;)

Thursday, November 15, 2007Name: Catherine from Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Subject: Storing Large Projects/Yarn Stashes

Comment: I save large plastic bags that my big bed quilts/pillows etc came in. They are very good quality and have snaps at the openings and transparent.

Friday, November 09, 2007Name: Erin

Subject: Traveling with your project

Comment: Instead of buying an $8-$10 yarn carrier/holder I use a $1 pitcher. I usually try to find some with a divet or two in the lid (to hold the row counter, tapestry needle, foldable scissors...etc...) and a handle that I can wrap yarn around to hold my needles/hook/loom tool (one that is concave or has 'divet' in it, instead of straight or convex)

Wednesday, November 07, 2007Name: Pat

Subject: storing Yarn

Comment: Be careful of the vacuum bags. I stored some yarn in them and when I took the yarn out it had crushed the yarn.

Sunday, November 04, 2007Name: allison from lautrdale new florida

Subject: storage

Comment: if you get the needles that connect with the plastic wire when you are done you can just slip the knots onto the wire and nothing will happen. so when you pick them back up all you have to do is slip it back on the needle and start. then you wont have to worry about the knots falling off the bottom off the needle

Tuesday, October 30, 2007Name: Melodie

Subject: yarn storage

Comment: Greetings. I read this idea somewhere and have tried it. When you store your yarn, however you do, put a sheet of fabric softener in with it (I use Bounce). Your yarn will come out of storage smelling fresh!

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